Studies on morphine disposition: influence of renal failure on the kinetics of morphine and its metabolites

Abstract

The influence of renal failure on the disposition of morphine and its metabolites was studied in nine patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing transplantation, and compared with five healthy anaesthetized patients. All patients received morphine sulphate pentahydrate 10 mg i.v. over 30 s, as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique. Venous blood samples were collected for up to 24 h, and plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) assayed by a differential radioimmunoassay method. There were no differences between the two groups for morphine elimination half-life (renal failure: 290 min; anaesthetized controls: 286 min), or clearance (renal failure: 533 ml min-1; controls 741 ml min-1). However, the volume of distribution at steady state was greater in the control group (241 litre v. 141 litre; P = 0.002). The peak concentrations of M3G and M6G were greater in the renal transplant patients (P = 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively), as were the AUC (0-24 h) (P = 0.002 and P = 0.002). M6G has been shown to possess analgesic properties in both man and experimental animals, and therefore the increased AUC for M6G may contribute to the prolonged effect seen with morphine when given to patients with impaired renal function.